Question on NBC O&O's Local Movie Show Titles ("Movie #")

[wbhist]

One of the forgotten local movie shows (at least I.M.H.O.) has been Movie 4 on WNBC-TV in New York, which ran from 1956 to 1974. This title was confirmed to have also been used by WRC-TV in Washington, DC; but I was curious if anyone had any info on whether this was also used from the late 1950's until at least the early 1970's by KRCA/KNBC in Los Angeles.

I do know that among the other NBC O&O's, this format title was adapted to the channel numbers in other cities that differed from those three. For example, WNBQ/WMAQ-TV had Movie 5; and when they owned what they called WRCV-TV in Philadelphia, their movie show was titled Movie 3. (However, from what I've been apprised, this title was not brought by NBC to Cleveland at the time their second wave of ownership of what became WKYC-TV commenced in 1965, instead retaining The Early Show title from Westinghouse/KYW-TV days.)

 

[RicoGregg]

In Los Angeles, circa late 50s to mid 60s, the local movie show on the NBC O&O was called "Fransen's Feature", hosted by Tom Fransen. He later hosted a similar show at KHJ/9, then an independent owned by RKO.

 

[Tim L]

I do know that among the other NBC O&O's, this format title was adapted to the channel numbers in other cities that differed from those three. For example, WNBQ/WMAQ-TV had Movie 5; and when they owned what they called WRCV-TV in Philadelphia, their movie show was titled Movie 3. (However, from what I've been apprised, this title was not brought by NBC to Cleveland at the time their second wave of ownership of what became WKYC-TV commenced in 1965, instead retaining The Early Show title from Westinghouse/KYW-TV days.)

wbhist:
Anohter thought on that..While contracturally, some Westinghouse people had to move to Philly, such as Mike Douglas, Weatherman Dick Goddard and Newsman Tom Snyder, I think at first, WKYC wanted to make things as similar as possible to KYW..Therefore even the call letter choice-W(KY)C was made with that in mind..and also retaining the "Early Show" Movie Tilte..

 

[wbhist]

In Los Angeles, circa late 50s to mid 60s, the local movie show on the NBC O&O was called "Fransen's Feature", hosted by Tom Fransen. He later hosted a similar show at KHJ/9, then an independent owned by RKO.

Did any of KNBC's movie shows bear the Movie 4 title at any time in the mid-60's or so? Or, like Cleveland's WKYC, did they have a different title or titles, a la Fransen's Feature?

 

[Tim L]

At WKYC, I believe they still had weekend afternoon movies in the 1970's..Those may have been called Saturday/Sunday Theater..Sunday nights may have been Theater 3 but dont really remember..

 

[LKellerIII]

In Los Angeles, circa late 50s to mid 60s, the local movie show on the NBC O&O was called "Fransen's Feature", hosted by Tom Fransen. He later hosted a similar show at KHJ/9, then an independent owned by RKO.

Did any of KNBC's movie shows bear the Movie 4 title at any time in the mid-60's or so? Or, like Cleveland's WKYC, did they have a different title or titles, a la Fransen's Feature?

Movie 4 on KNBC rings a faint bell in my memory, but I'm guessing they probably used the title for the occasional local prime-time movie, as a fill-in after those events that sometimes knocked-out prime-time network programming on the east coast - like presidential press conferences, or sporting events.

Other than Frandsen's Features, I don't recall KNBC running morning or afternoon movies. Those were usually the provenance of KNXT (CBS) with the Early Show in the afternoon, and KABC with the 6:00 O'Clock Movie, 6:30 Movie, etc. Then you had the early afternoon movie on KTTV hosted by Ben Hunter. The afore-mentioned KHJ-TV probably ran the most movies - morning, afternoon, and prime-time.

My memory of Frandsen's Features is that it was an odd compilation of elements, including horribly mutilated Movies (edited for time and commercials), off-network re-runs, interviews, and even Crusader Rabbit cartoons. Frandsen later did informational shows on KNBC, including one called FYI.

 

[RicoGregg]

In Los Angeles, circa late 50s to mid 60s, the local movie show on the NBC O&O was called "Fransen's Feature", hosted by Tom Fransen. He later hosted a similar show at KHJ/9, then an independent owned by RKO.

Did any of KNBC's movie shows bear the Movie 4 title at any time in the mid-60's or so? Or, like Cleveland's WKYC, did they have a different title or titles, a la Fransen's Feature?

Honest to RiverHogan, I don't ever remember the Movie 4 title being used by KRCA/KNBC at any time, ever. That doesn't mean that it didn't happen at some point.

Movie 4 on KNBC rings a faint bell in my memory, but I'm guessing they probably used the title for the occasional local prime-time movie, as a fill-in after those events that sometimes knocked-out prime-time network programming on the east coast - like presidential press conferences, or sporting events.

Other than Frandsen's Features, I don't recall KNBC running morning or afternoon movies. Those were usually the provenance of KNXT (CBS) with the Early Show in the afternoon, and KABC with the 6:00 O'Clock Movie, 6:30 Movie, etc. Then you had the early afternoon movie on KTTV hosted by Ben Hunter. The afore-mentioned KHJ-TV probably ran the most movies - morning, afternoon, and prime-time.

My memory of Frandsen's Features is that it was an odd compilation of elements, including horribly mutilated Movies (edited for time and commercials), off-network re-runs, interviews, and even Crusader Rabbit cartoons. Frandsen later did informational shows on KNBC, including one called FYI.

I was never sure at any point if it was Fransen or Frandsen or Franson or Frandson. For continuity's sake, I'll go along with LKeller's Frandsen. It looks right, anyway.

Tom Frandsen did do some borderline crazy things on the program. Some of his live commercials were a hoot, especially the peanut butter ads. Can't remember if the brand was Skippy, Jif, Peter Pan, or whoever. It may have been the last place where I saw a Crusader Rabbit cartoon air. Other Channel 4 personalities would occasionally drop by or even guest host: Lee Giroux, Jack Latham, who resembled a bulldog, sort of, and a young sportscaster on the Channel 4 news team, Chick Hearn.

Just remembered that in those pre-Amtrak days, the major railroads were still offering passenger train service, and Frandsen did live ads for Santa Fe, complete with a transparent wall where he would write down different rates for different destinations - backwards, much like weather forecasters wrote temps.

Frandsen's Features had a very campy theme song, can't name it, and it almost is indescribable, medium tempo with either an oboe or recorder playing the lead, accompanied by a graphic showing a lighthouse with the words "FRANDSEN'S FEATURES" off to the side.

Who needs the Pacific when you've got memory lane?

 

[LKellerIII]

In Los Angeles, circa late 50s to mid 60s, the local movie show on the NBC O&O was called "Fransen's Feature", hosted by Tom Fransen. He later hosted a similar show at KHJ/9, then an independent owned by RKO.

I was never sure at any point if it was Fransen or Frandsen or Franson or Frandson. For continuity's sake, I'll go along with LKeller's Frandsen. It looks right, anyway.

Tom Frandsen did do some borderline crazy things on the program. Some of his live commercials were a hoot, especially the peanut butter ads. Can't remember if the brand was Skippy, Jif, Peter Pan, or whoever. It may have been the last place where I saw a Crusader Rabbit cartoon air. Other Channel 4 personalities would occasionally drop by or even guest host: Lee Giroux, Jack Latham, who resembled a bulldog, sort of, and a young sportscaster on the Channel 4 news team, Chick Hearn.

Just remembered that in those pre-Amtrak days, the major railroads were still offering passenger train service, and Frandsen did live ads for Santa Fe, complete with a transparent wall where he would write down different rates for different destinations - backwards, much like weather forecasters wrote temps.

Frandsen's Features had a very campy theme song, can't name it, and it almost is indescribable, medium tempo with either an oboe or recorder playing the lead, accompanied by a graphic showing a lighthouse with the words "FRANDSEN'S FEATURES" off to the side.

Who needs the Pacific when you've got memory lane?

I know it was Frandsen, but only because I googled him. There's not a lot about Tom on the internet, but I found his 1994 obituary on variety.com.

To wander off topic a little, I remember that Sante Fe was a big sponsor of local programming in LA. My father was a fan of Alex Dreier's 10:00 PM news program on KTTV in the mid 60s, sponsored by Sante Fe. KTTV hired him to counter-program George Putnam when they lost Putnam to KTLA...you know, just as pompous, only a liberal. Back then, it was still typical for talk hosts, game-show hosts, and even news anchors to introduce the commercials. Dreier had a weird way of doing that...in his deep stentorian voice, intoning "And now, if you will, this message from Sante Fe.". The he'd point like a kid making a make-believe gun with his hand, and shoot it. Strange style.

Just to bring it full circle, when Dreier quit KTTV, they brought in Jack Latham, who had been replaced at KNBC by Robert Abernathy.

Sorry for the diversion...now back to the Movie 4 question. Perhaps I'm remembering that from KRON San Francisco in the 70s. Again, primarily to fill-in for occasionally pre-empted network programming.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR119824.html?categoryid=25&cs=1